Education
The NZAS Southland Science and Technology Fair Committee will be honouring Southland students who have been awarded prizes in the 2023 NZAS Southland Science and Technology Fair at a prizegiving ceremony at the Invercargill Workingmen’s Club on Friday 11 August 2023 at 5pm. This year 222 exhibits from 18 schools were entered into the fair. In total, 168 prizes were awarded, including 36 special prizes from sponsors and 8 major prizes from NZAS.
At the ceremony, winners of Commendations, Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards will be announced, as well as winners of Special Awards, Major Awards and Premier Awards.
TOP PRIZEWINNERS
Sophie Ineson from Southland Girls High School was awarded the NZAS Premier Science Award for her project “Shell Be Right.” Her project looked at whether adding crushed shell waste to seawater could help buffer ocean acidification, and demonstrated a fantastic understanding of the science involved. She also received the NZAS award for Excellence in Science (Year 9-10), a Gold award for Science & Technology, an Ocean Science Award from NIWA, and a Conservation Award from Forest and Bird.
Steve O’Connor and Sabin Rutledge from Myross Bush School were awarded the NZAS Premier Technology Award for their project “Lets Kick It.” They designed a series of prototypes for new ruby tees that would stop the ball being blown over in the Southland wind, and tested these designs thoroughly. Steve and Sabin also received the NZAS award for Excellence in Technology Year 5 & 6, and a Gold award for Science & Technology.
Ella Liu from James Hargest College (Junior Campus) was awarded the NZAS Excellence in Science Year 7 & 8 for her project “The Yeast Effect!” Her project comprehensively investigated which type of flour produced the highest rise under different temperature and humidity conditions, and presented the results with great clarity. She was also awarded a Gold award for Science & Technology, the Tania Lineham Science Communication Prize, a Food Science award from Baking Industry Research Trust, and a Food Technology & Science award from NZIFST.
Tahlie Rutledge and Charlee Johnston from Myross Bush School were awarded the NZAS award for Excellence in Science for Year 5 & 6 for their project “The Best Breaky.” This project tested how different breakfasts affected blood sugar levels over time, and also received a Gold award for Science & Technology and a NZIFST Food Technology & Science Award.
Sayla Ware and Bella McRitchie-King from Halfmoon Bay School were awarded the NZAS Excellence in Technology Year 7 & 8 for their project “Micro Magic.” They coded a micro-bit to work out how much energy was being wasted by people leaving the toilet lights on at their school, and then calculated how much this was costing the school per year. Sayla and Bella were also awarded a Silver award for Science & Technology, and a NZ Oil & Gas Encouragement Award for Technology.
Raymond Xie-Jones, Benjamin Steinger and Oshadha Pereira from Southland Boys High School were awarded the NZAS Excellence in Science Year 11 – 13 for their project “Oxygen In The Waihopai.” Using titrations they measured dissolved oxygen levels at varying
distances from the Waihopai dam and connected their findings to both the science and the impacts on species in the river. The project also received a Silver award for Science and Technology, a Fresh Water award from NIWA, and an Award for Innovative Methodology from ILT.